Apparatus for separating articles into numerically uniform groups

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for separating articles, such as, for example, container lids, into groups, each containing a predetermined number of articles, is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes an article separating member having a predetermined number of article engaging means. The separating member is connected with a support housing for allowing the engaging means to rotate along a predetermined path so as to engage different ones of a plurality of said articles during movement along said path. The separating member is limited to a predetermined amount of movement along said path so that a predetermined number of articles can be separated into a single group.

United States Patent 1 1 Lind [4 1 Feb. 5, 1974 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ARTICLES INTO NUMERICALLY UNIFORM GROUPS [75] Inventor: Archie L. Lind, Lakewood, Colo.

[73] Assignee: Bau Corporation, Muncie, Ind.

[22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 207,411

[52] US. Cl. 221/2, 235/98 [51] Int. Cl. G06m 7/00 [58] Field of Search. 222/277, 2, 7; 235/98 R, 98 B;

[56] References Cited Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gilbert E. Alberding [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for separating articles, such as, for example, container lids, into groups, each containing a predetermined number of articles, is disclosed herein. The apparatusincludes an article separating member having a predetermined number of article engaging means. The separating member is connected with a support housing for allowing the engaging means to rotate along a predetermined path so as to engage different ones of a plurality of said articles during movement along said path. The separating member is limited to a predetermined amount of movement along said path so that a predetermined number of articles can be separated into a single group.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIED FEB 5:914

SHEEI 1 OF 2 PATENTEDFEB 1w SHEET 2 (IF 2 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ARTICLES INTO NUMERICALLY UNIFORM GROUPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to article separating devices and, more particularly, to such devices adapted to separate articles into numerically definitive groups.

2. Description of the Prior Art In todays highly automated technological society, there is complex equipment for automatically counting, separating, testing and inspecting individual articles from a larger group, these operations being only a few of many such operations provided by sophisticated equipmenti While complex equipment is often necessary for sophisticated operations, it can, and often does, lead to expensive maintenance as well as operational malfunction.

Heretofore, one specific type of operation which has been treated in a sophisticated fashion utilizing complex equipment has been article separation for group packaging. However, in view of the problems and cost inherent with the use of such equipment, the group packaging of, for example, beverage container lids by the container manufacturer for delivery to the beverage manufacturer, in many instances, has been simplified.

One simplified c ontainer lid packaging method is to initially calculate the average number of lids which would be included in a given axial length if the lids were positioned in a contiguous stack-like position. By positioning the lids in this manner as they come off the assembly line and by separating them into sections of a predetermined calculated length, groups containing an approximation of the desired number of lids can be obtained. However, because of many variables, such as, for example, tolerance limitations, this method does not lead to accurately providing groups containing an exact desired number of lids. Hence, where numerically definitive groups of lids are desired, a more accurate device for achieving this end is required. Accordingly, both overly complicated and overly simplified methods of packaging articles, such as, for example, beverage container lids, into groups, each containing a predetermined number oflids have been found to be not completely satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention which overcomes many of the foregoing deficienciesof the prior art, as well as other Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article separating apparatus which includes an actuation lock-in mechanism.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the detail of FIG. 2 when the apparatus is in a second specific operating position; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides an uncomplicated, rapid and accurate device for separating articles, such as, for example, beverage container lids, into groups, each containing a predetermined number of such lids. This is achieved by transporting the lids in a contiguous stack-like fashion under and into engagement with respective adjacent teeth of a rotatably mounted gear counter. A gear rotation limiting assembly is operably connected with the gear counter and, when actuated, limits the counter to a predetermined amount of rotation, such as, for example, two revolutions, whereupon it requires reactuation before the counter may be rotated again. In this regard, the rotation limiting assembly includes a lock-in mechanism which maintains the assembly in an actuated state, once actuated, until the gear counter completes the predetermined amount of rotation.

Operationally, after actuating the rotation limiting assembly, the lids, positioned in the foregoing manner, are manually moved under the gear counter. In this manner, the lids engage respective teeth of the counter, causing the latter to rotate in response thereto. The lids are so moved until the counter makes, for example, the aforestated two revolutions, whereupon the rotation limiting assembly inhibits further rotational movement, thereby preventing further movement of the lids in the direction of the counter. Therefore, the number of lids into groups containing a predetermined number of such articles.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved uncomplicated, but reliable, apparatus for accurately separating articles into numerically definitive groups.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for rapidly separating articles into groups, each containing a predetermined number of such articles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an article separating apparatus which is economical to manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved article separating apparatus which is simple to operate.

that pass under the counter before the latter stops is dependent upon the number of teeth provided by the gear counter. Hence, if, for example, 200 lids were desired in a particular group, the gear counter could be designed to include teeth positioned to engage re-' which, in turn, is mounted for free rotation in apertures provided in a support housing 18. While the gear teeth may be constructed of any suitable material, they are preferably constructed of, for example, nylon or other suitable material which minimizes damage to the articles to be separated.

A gear counter rotation limiting assembly 20 is also supported by housing 18 and, as will be seen hereinafter, is operably connected to the gear counter for limiting the latter to a predetermined amount of rotation, such as, for example, two revolutions. Specifically, until actuated, assembly 20 prevents the gear counter from rotating in, for example, the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. Upon actuating the assembly, the counter is allowed to rotate clockwise two revolutions, whereupon rotation is again inhibited.

In order to function in the foregoing manner, assem-' bly 20 includes a master gear 22 fixed to a shaft 24 which, is turn, is mounted for free rotation in apertures provided in housing 18. The master gear is positioned in a meshing relationship with a reduction gear 26 fixed to shaft 16 so that rotation of said gear counter causes proportional rotation ofthe master gear. The reduction gear is designed so that, for example, two revolutions of gear counter 12 will cause one revolution of master gear 22. While only one reducing gear is shown, it is to be understood that a series of such gears may be utilized for coupling the gear counter with the master gear. In addition, the proportional movement of the gear counter and master gear is not limited to a twoto-one ratio but will depend upon the size of the gear counter desired and the number of teeth required for the particular operation.

Assembly 20 also includes an 'actuatable rotation limiting mechanism 28 which, as will be seen hereinafter,

has an actuation lock-in mechanism. In this regard,

mechanism 28 includes a pivotable arm' 30 positioned on the side of the master gear and near its circumferential edge. The arm is pivotally mounted at one end to an elongated pin 34 suitably fixed to, and extending from, the side'of master gear 22. The pivotable arm is biased against a first limit peg 36 (FIG. 2) by a spring element 37, the first limit peg being rigidly connected to one side of the master gear below, and to one side of, the free end of arm 30. In this manner, the arm is movable between its biased position adjacent peg 36 and a forced position (FIG. 1) adjacent asecond limiting peg 38, suitably mounted to the same side ofthe master gear as peg 36 and positioned on the opposite side of arm 30.

An elongated rotation limiting post 40 is mounted within a cooperating cylinder 42 comprising part of housing 18 for movement between a retracted position,

as illustrated in FIG. 2, and an extended position, as illustrated in FIGS. l and 3. A spring element 44 is positioned within the cooperating cylinder for biasing the post towardits extended position. As shown best in FIG. 1, when the post is initially in its extended position, before actuation of the rotation limiting assembly 20, the otherwise free end of the post extends downwardly from the top of master gear 22 and to one side thereof. In this way, the post engages one side of arm 30, forcing the latter into engagement with peg 38 for preventing the master gear from rotating counterclockwise, hence preventing the gear counter from rotating clockwise.

The post 40 is moved from its biased extended position to its retracted position by a lever actuator 46 which is fixed near one end to a pivot pin 48, suitably mounted in an aperture provided in housing 18 for pivotal movement. The lever actuator is positioned so that one end thereof lies directly beneath an extended shoulder 50 provided with post 40, the actuator being biased toward this position by a spring element 52 connected to the latter and support housing, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this manner, the end of the actuator adjacent spring element 52 may be pushed down for moving the post to its retracted position. Upon releasing the actuator, both the actuator and post tend to move back to their respective biased positions.

With rotation limiting assembly 20 constructed in the foregoing manner, attention is now directed to the manner in which it operates. Assuming firstly that the assembly is positioned in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, it should be readily apparent that post 40, arm 30 and peg 38 cooperate to prevent the master gear from rotating counterclockwise which, in turn, prevents reduction gear 26 and gear counter 12 from rotating clockwise.

By pressing down on lever actuator 46,-the post 40 is moved upward, out of engagement with arm 30, so as to allow the latter to move to its biased position adjacent the peg 36, as illustrated in FIG."2. At this time, the actuator may be released, allowing the post to move down into engagement with the top surface of the arm 30. As illustrated, this top surface is curvilinear, preferably complementary in curvilinear design to the circular design of master gear 22. Hence, assembly 20 is locked in its actuated state, even though the actuator has been released, and, therefore, allows counterclockwise rotation of the master gear and clockwise rotation of the gear counter. The latter may now be rotated, causing rotation of the master gear.

As the master gear is rotated. counterclockwise, the

pivotable arm 30 moves from under the post 40, causing the latter to move to its fully extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 3. After the gear counter has rotated a predetermined amount, such as, for example, two revolutions, causing the master gear to make one revolution, the arm 30 again engages the post, in the manner shown in FIG. 1, for preventing further rotational movement. As will be seen hereinafter, this ability to limit rotation of gear counter 12 in the foregoing manner allows uncomplicated, reliable and rapid grouping of container lids. I

As illustrated in FIG. 1, apparatus 10 also includes a lid transport assembly 54 comprising a pair of elongated, spaced-apart and confronting support channels 56 and 58 which are arcuate in cross section. The support channels are adapted to receive a plurality of articles, such as, for example, beverage container lids 60, which are positioned in a contiguous stack-like manner, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this regard, the radius of curvature of each of the channel supports is preferably slightly larger than the radius of the lids so that the latter fit vertically between,.and in slidable engagement with, the support channels. In addition, it should be noted that the lids, when positioned in the aforestated contiguous stack-like manner, define circumferential ridges, or indentions, which separate the top edges of the individual lids, as illustrated best in FIG. 4.

As illustrated best In FIG. 4, the respective forward edges 62 and 64 of support channels 56 and 58 are positioned slightly to one side of the lowermost edge of gear counter 12 so that the edges of lids engage respective teeth 14 as the lids are slidably moved through the support channels in the direction of arrow 66.- In this regard, it should be noted that the teeth 14 of gear counter 12 are sufficiently spaced apart from each other so that the edge of a single lid may be positioned between two adjacent teeth. It may be desirable, however, to space adjacent teeth such that more than one lid may be received therebetween.

Assembly 54 also includes a plurality of elongated lid engaging elements 68 in the form of, for example, resilient leaf springs which are positioned on opposite sides of respective channel supports 56 and 58 so as to extend out from forward edges 62 and 64. As illustrated, the forward end of each engaging element includes an inwardly facing edge 70 which, as will be seen hereinafter, is adapted to engage between contiguous lids. In this regard, the edges 70 are positioned on opposite sides of the gear counter.

The otherwise free end of each engaging element 68 is connected to its respective channel support by suit able fastening means 72 so that the engaging element can easily move between a biased, horizontally extending position and a slightly inclined position relativeto the fastening means.

With apparatus constructed in the foregoing manner, attention is now directed to the manner in which it operates. Let it be assumed for the purpose of this operational discussion that the lids are to be separated into groups of, for example, one hundred lids. This means that the gear counter 12 will include fifty teeth 14 spaced apart a sufficient distance so that a single lid can engage between adjacent teeth or, for example, less teeth spaced apart a greater distance so that more than one lid can engage between adjacent teeth. It will further be assumed that the apparatus 10 is initially in the position shown in FIG. 1, with container lids already positioned between support channels 56 and 58. In this regard, while not shown, conventional means for conveying the lids to the support channels for contiguous stack-like positioning would be provided. In addition, While the support channels are shown extending horizontally, they may be positioned in any other suitable manner so long as the lids supported therein can be moved into engagement with the gear counter 12 in the manner to be described hereinafter.

When the operater desires to separate from the plurality of lids a single group of 100 lids, he firstly depresses lever actuator 46 so as to raise post 40, causing pivot arm 30.to move toits biased position against peg 36 (FIG. 2). The operator may now release the actuator, causing the lower end of the post to engage the top cam surface of arm 30. Assembly is now locked in its actuating state. The operator may now manually apply a force to the back end of those lids held between support channels 56 and 58, moving the lids in the direction of arrow 66, or the lids may be mechanically moved in that direction. As illustrated in FIG. 4, this causes the forwardmost lid to slidably move into engagement with one .of the teeth of gear counter 12, causing the latter to rotate one increment in the clockwise direction. As movement of the lids is continued, the following forwardmost lids successively engage respective teeth of the gear counter, causing continuous clockwise rotation of the latter. It should be noted that as the lids pass under and into engagement with the gear counter they engage theedges of elements 68, forcing the elements to their respective inclined positions, so as to allow the engaged lids to fall onto, for example, a group receiving support channel 74 where the lids can be further transported for packaging purposes.

In this regard, channel 74 may include means (not shown) for maintaining the received lids in a continuous stack-like position.

As the gear counter is rotated by the successively engaging lids, the master gear 22, in response thereto, rotates in the counterclockwise direction. When the master gear has made one complete revolution, it is inhibited from further rotation by arm 30 in the manner described hereinabove. This, in turn, prevents further rotation of reducing gear 26 and gear counter 12 and, thus, prevents further movement of the lids between the support channels 56 and 58. However, by this time, the gear counter has made .exactly two revolutions (as stated above), allowing, for example, exactly lids to pass thereunder and into support channel 74. In this regard, it should be apparent that the gear counter is not limited to a rotatably movably disc-shaped gear but may be, for example, a reciprocating rack or ratchet arrangement.

The foregoing operation may be repeated for providing successive groups, each containing 100 lids. In this regard, it is to be understood that each group is not limited to 100 lids. For example, to increase or decrease the number of lids per group, the gear counter could be modified to include a greater .or lesser number of teeth and/or the reducing gear could be modified such that the gear counter makes more or less than two revolutions in response to one revolution of the master gear. In addition, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to separating beverage container lids into predetermined groups but may be utilized with other articles capable of engaging'the gear counter in the foregoing manner.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been] shown and described, various modifications as may appear to those skilled in the art intended to be within the contemplation of the invention as described in scope by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for separating container lids into groups, each containing a predetermined number of said lids, said apparatus comprising: support means; an article sensing member including a predetermined number of article engaging means defined by equally spaced teeth, each of which is adapted for engagement with different ones of said articles; means connecting said sensing member with said support means for allowing incremental movement of said engaging means along a predetermined path so thateach of said engaging means is adapted to at least momentarily engage different ones of said plurality of articles during said incremental movement of said engaging means along said path; and means for limiting said engaging means to a predetermined amount of movement along said predetermined path, said limiting 'means including means movable between a'first position for preventing said article engaging means from moving in a given direction along said predetermined path when said engaging means is initially at a predetermined point along said path and a second position for allowing movement of said engaging means in said given direction when the latter is initially at said point, and means responsive to the movement of said movable means from said first position to said second position when said engaging means is initially at said predetermined point for maintaining said movable member in said second position at least until said engaging means is initially moved a predetermined distance from said point in said given direction.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTKFICATE 0F CfiBRECTlQN ;Patent No. 3,790,022 D e February 5, 1974 Inventor(s) Archie L. Lind It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected .as shown below:

Column 3, line 15 reads "which, is should be which, in

Column 5, line-43 reads "operater" should be operator 3 Column 6, line 36 reads "art intended" should be art are intended r- Signed and sealed this 8th day of October. v1974 (SEAL) Attest:

Q MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN.

Attesting Officer Commieeioner of Patents FORM PO-1OSO (10-69) USCOMM-UC 603764 09 0H5 covzumlzmrumvmc. u L in) -:m,-

v TINTTED STATES PATENT GFFICE CERTEHQATE M CG REQTEON Patent No. 3,790,022 Dated February 5, o 1974 Inventor(s) Archie L. Lind It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby correctedas shown below:

Column 3, line 15 reads "which, is" should be which, in

Column 5, line-43 reads "operater" shoulfi be operator Column 6, line 36 reads "art intended" should be are are intended Signed and sealed chie 8th day of October. .1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

} McCOY M GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attest-ing Officer Comieeioner, of Patents F ORM PO-1050(10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-7 us LOVEIINMENII'RINIING rr 1 vane-1m, 

1. An apparatus for separating container lids into groups, each containing a predetermined number of said lids, said apparatus comprising: support means; an article sensing member including a predetermined number of article engaging means defined by equally spaced teeth, each of which is adapted for engagement with different ones of said articles; means connecting said sensing member with said support means for allowing incremental movement of said engaging means along a predetermined path so that each of said engaging means is adapted to at least momentarily engage different ones of said plurality of articles during said incremental movement of said engaging means along said path; and means for limiting said engaging means to a predetermined amount of movement along said predetermined path, said limiting means including means movable between a first position for preventing said article engaging means from moving in a given direction along said predetermined path when said engaging means is initially at a predetermined point along said path and a second position for allowing movement of said engaging means in said given direction when the latter is initially at said point, and means responsive to the movement of said movable means from said first position to said second position when said engaging means is initially at said predetermined point for maintaining said movable member in said second position at least until said engaging means is initially moved a predetermined distance from said point in said given direction. 